A New York lady is alleging that she was denied a high-level job as a result of a recruiter didn’t imagine her look confirmed sufficient effort.

In a viral TikTok that has been seen over 266,500 instances, Melissa Weaver, 30, mentioned she did all the issues that will be in keeping with an workplace gown code in her video interview for a vice chairman function in human assets at a tech firm.

Weaver says she was carrying a black blazer and white button-up shirt — each ironed — styled her hair in a blowout look, and painted her nails a impartial shade.

However one factor she did not have on? Make-up.

@_melissaweaver Does carrying make as much as work make a distinction? #work #company #profession #interview #job #jobsearch #make-up #jobinterview #opinion #recommendation #ladies ♬ authentic sound – Melissa

“I did not assume was a giant deal,” Weaver penned in an essay to Insider in regards to the incident. “However apparently, it was to her.”

Weaver mentioned she thought the interview went effectively — it even went 10 minutes longer than scheduled — however was shocked when she acquired an electronic mail days later saying that although she was “in line” with what the corporate wished by way of expertise and values, she wouldn’t be shifting on to the subsequent spherical.

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As an HR knowledgeable herself, Weaver pushed for suggestions, which is when she was instructed by way of electronic mail by the recruiter that the corporate was “involved that you simply did not put forth sufficient effort into your look given you have been interviewing for a Vice President function.”

“My response was a little bit of shock. One, that somebody would write that in an electronic mail. However extra so, that in 2024, that is nonetheless occurring,” she mentioned. “Listening to that as a result of I hadn’t carried out that, I used to be one way or the other much less certified or did not appear to be I used to be as enthusiastic in regards to the job was simply baffling.”

Individuals within the feedback jumped to Weaver’s protection, calling the recruiter’s determination “wildly inappropriate” and urging her to ahead the e-mail to the corporate’s head of HR.

“It is wild she mentioned that in an electronic mail to you,” one individual wrote. “This could by no means be mentioned to a person.”

“That actually seems like discrimination,” one other mentioned. “Not hiring you primarily based in your seems?”

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Weaver didn’t name out the corporate by title.

In keeping with LinkedIn, Weaver final labored as a Senior Individuals Enterprise Accomplice at Motion Community earlier than being laid off in December 2023.